A Success Story

About a year ago, Carol Dawson walked through our doors here at Innovative Fitness. She had gone through a lot of adversity through out the last 10years and came to us (persuaded/accompanied with a close friend) to change her life. Eight months prior to her joining IF, she had had gastric bypass surgery, had knee pain due to her weight and her self confidence was the lowest it could get.

She was 370lbs when she walked through our doors and is now currently 294lbs. However, our (myself and a fellow coach Kevin) main objective was not about her constantly thinking about her weightloss. We wanted her to enjoy coming here to workout and have fun. We set her up on a program, persuaded her to come to her sessions half an hour early to do her own cardio and held her accountably and educated her on nutrition.

The friendship started right away with both Kevin and I. We each brought something different to her workouts and provided a proper but fun workout. She couldn’t do the “big destinations” like the hiking series or the 10km races, so we made a point of creating our own in “house challenges”. The look of determination and hard work that was on Carol’s face was rewarding after every challenge she accomplished.

Carol’s Challenges:
1. Getting on the Stairmaster and doing 10floors.
2. 2mile bike test
3. Kayaking – she never thought she would be able to get in a kayak again
4. Walking up 24th St.

and lastly

5. THE GROUSE GRIND.

Last Tuesday, Kevin, Carol and I accomplished this challenge. Carol’s family and friends thought she was crazy and was definitely not going to make it. However, Kevin and I believed in her. We trained for it, we came prepared, we kept her motivated the whole way up and we were 100% behind her every step of the way. She accomplished this goal in 1hr 42min, which is an amazing time! The smile and brightness in her eyes is something you can’t described. She was on top of the moon (or mountain) and ecstatic that she proved all her family and friends wrong that thought she couldn’t do it.

She is an amazing person and I am truly humbled to be able to be apart of her journey. Helping a person achieve something they thought was never possible and to be there when they do, is something everyone should experience.

Our Deepest Fear

What is your deepest fear?

We all have fears. Are you letting your fears hold you back from fully enjoying life, from getting what you want in life?

Ever since I heard it, I’ve loved “Our Deepest Fear.” It was presented as a short poem in the movie “Akeelah and the Beem,” and heard in the movie 'Coach Carter; however, it actually came from the book “A Return to Love,” by Marianne Williamson.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” –Marianne Williamson

Take a few minutes and think about it. What fears do you have? How are your fears impacting your life?

“Don’t fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have.” — Louis E. Boone

Who sways your opinion??

Two stories have come across my proverbial desk in the past week that I would like to bring together for the sake of this blog. They are very different and seemingly unrelated but you'll see the correlation in a minute, be patient.

The first story is based on an argument as to whether those who have outstanding warrants for their arrest should be able to collect welfare. The argument for them being denied government aid is that they have committed crimes against their fellow citizens or the province they look to for support and are required to pay their debt to society, not add to societies debt.

The argument that speaks to them continuing to be the financial responsibility of the province (and tax payers) is such that if they do not have an income for food, shelter (hopefully), drugs and or alcohol they will steal (damaging cars/homes) and panhandle. They will cost society in an entirely different manner.

The second piece I read was an article from Time magazine entitled "Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin". The article summed up blames peoples inability to lose weight on the fact that when people work out they become ravenously hungry as a result and tend to overindulge in unhealthy treats and due to their misconception of calorie expenditure vs. caloric value of a Starbucks Old Fashioned Donut they typically negate their hard work, and thensome.

Quotes from the article include "In the past few years of obesity research show that the role of exercise in weight loss has been wildly overstated" and a "Prominent exercise researcher and Chair in Diabetes and Metabolism at Louisiana State University" says "In general, for weight loss, exercise is pretty useless." Nice.

What these two articles have in common is they provide the reader with an excuse. The first article tells the reader, (and the criminal) that criminals are just that. Rather than spend the money currently going into welfare into policing, the judicial system, rehabilitation, or community reparation programs it is easier to keep the status quo. The people spoken of in the article will also believe this because they are given little choice.

The second piece, when read by someone trying to decide between a gym membership or Weight Watchers, is incredibly irresponsible. It too provides an excuse for those trusting too much in what they read. Just as the criminal mentioned above continues to be kept down and forced to relive old patterns so to will be the misinformed dieter.

- Angela Tames

Change and Reinvention

"Be the change you want to see in the world." (Mahatma Ghandi, 1869-1948)

Change.

It's not something that comes easily to any of us - in fact, if you refer to the article "Change or Die", you can see that the odds any of us will make any sort of significant change, even facing death - is 9 to 1.

9 to 1!!! That's just over 10%... now, can you imagine trying to change the policies of an entire country?

Just ask Obama how that's going. Ironic, when you consider that he was elected on a platform of "Change". If you are that afraid of it, why would you vote for him?

Because change, when it's merely a concept is appealing - it offers hope. But the truth is, when you're faced with the actual, concrete reality... well, suddenly where you are seems much more appealing. Why put yourself out there, and take a risk - even if the reward is greater? Especially if you're more or less comfortable with how things are now?

I'll tell you why - change is necessary to evolve. Change is often reactive - meaning it happens as a result of current situations. However, if we (as societies AND as individuals) could only take a PROactive approach instead - can you imagine how much farther ahead we'd be? If we looked down the road at what was coming, and made the move in the right direction prior to being forced into it when the moment happens?

It starts with each of us - society itself is the combination of individuals. If you keep waiting for everyone else to begin to change before you do - then we are all going to continue on in a stagnant, slow moving river leading to mediocrity and oblivion.

Change.

Or die.

~Guy

in the land down under...

it has been a long road to get here with many road bumps along the way. training, surgery and work all take time when preparing for such a journey.
well, last week on aug18 we began took off...
the best beginning to share is the fact that we were upgraded to first class on our long 16hr flight over to Oz. seriously, we got on the plane and the three of us had our very own pod to call home for the time in the air. I have taken many plane rides and because of my size, getting comfortable is very difficult. we experienced 3 course meals and snacks between sleeping for over 11hrs...what if you could stretch out completely and watch a movie while drinking red wine and eating cheese...
once we arrived in sidney, we jumped on our connection to took off to cairns. matt, curtis and I were met by our 3 new ozzy friends (cam, mick and nelson) these guys are amazing and right from the start we knew we were in for a treat.
the first night was a night to get to know each other and lets just say that it was one to remember with us ripping up the night life in cairns and really getting down to business!

we actually time travelled to get here and we are still asking ourselves what time it is and what date it is at home..
be sure to check the innovative fitness facebook page for our daily updates, pictures and videos.

I would like to share a couple keys points..
-if you plan for something, anything is possible
-if you have the right people in place, even the hardest tasks are achievable and even fun
-if you stay positive, nothing can stand in your way

we are half way around the world doing something that nobody has ever tried...riding from cairns to melbourne in 8days with 5riders in hopes to raise awareness and funds for juvenile diabetes...we are surrounded by some of the most generous people we have ever met and having a ball...it's only the 4day of riding and this is shaping up to be high up on our list of best trips of all times...quite frankly, there's nothing stopping it from getting to number one.

really, it always comes back to team

ps - another special thanks to all those who made this possible from me to experience the best trip/ adventure/ journey/ road trip/ rv life/ ride of my life

best, richard

What 'Drives' You?

I was reading an article the other day in Reader’s Digest, and it was an interview with George Stroumboulopoulos – a Canadian television and radio personality, and best known as the host of CBC Television’s The Hour, a talk show about the world's current events. There was one question, and his answer in particular, that really resonated with me.

Reader’s Digest: What attractes you to a guest?

Stroumboulopoulos: I like honest people. And people who like to work. Creative, dedicated work-horses. Because I like it when it’s not a job, it’s a drive.

I interpret the ‘drive’ that he sepaks about as passion. I believe that success is the result of putting your heart, and mind into something to create meaningful work. A great ‘real time’ example of this comes from a conference that Malcom Gladwell gave in San Fransisco. He said that Bill Gates got up at 2:00am to program as a teenager, while the Beatles played together 1200 times, far more that most bands, before they ever got famous.

Think about it – you spend how many hours per day, per week, month, year at work? Life is too short to not love the work you do. Loving your job will go a long way to loving your life - so, take the time to find your passion. Everyone deserves the opportunity to live a life of fulfillment and happiness.

Red Bull Flugtag

Have you ever heard of this?? Well I certainly hadn't. I seems that all around the world, every year, regular people are encouraged to create a craft that is human powered with the hopes that if they launch it off a 6.7 meter high deck that it will fly. Most often what you see in this picture is the result, in fact you can watch the top ten disasterous attempts at http://www.redbullflugtag.ca/ and giggle at the attempts of various people from various countries all do the same thing with no success.

The reason I bring this up is simple. Events like this one, the cheese wheel rolling event witnessed recently in Whistler, and other silly organized good times people participate in all the time all around the world tells us something. People, no matter what their language, religious beliefs, race, all work hard, all have deep responsibilities and need to let off steam. Some do so with mates at a pub while others relax in a way that requires a costume but in the maylay of war, irresponsible government, parenting, natural disasters we need to remember that balance is part of what we facilitate. Work hard, play hard.


-Angela Tames